Picture frame



A. L. SHAW PICTURE FRAME Aug. 10

Filed July 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 10, 1937.

A. L. SHAW PICTURE FRAME Filed July 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 S mw Aug. 10, 1937. A. 1.. SHAW ,0 9 7 PICTURE FRAME Filed July 22, l93b 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFHCE PICTURE FRAME Albert Lemuel Shaw, Corinne, Utah Application July 22,

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in picture frames and it is designed more especially as an improvement upon the structures shown in Patents 1,998,640 issued to 5 me on April 23, 1935, and 2,044,125, issued to me on June 16, 1936.

An object of the invention is to provide a frame one portion of which can be removed readily for the purpose of affording convenient access to the space containing the picture or into which the picture is to be inserted, it being possible readily to separate and to assemble the parts of the frame.

Another object is to provide means for sealing the edges of the structure so as to exclude dust and moisture.

A still further object is to provide simple and eflicient means for holding the parts assembled, said means constituting fasteners for holding in place means whereby the picture can be supported in an upstanding position.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the inventionhave been shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a picture frame embodying the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the frame showing the removable member detached.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6, Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a section on line ll, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of a modified struc- 45 ture showing an easel arrangement, the parts being folded.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 9 and showing the easel set up to support the picture frame in an upstanding 50 position.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates the body of thepicture frame which can be made of heavy paper board and, if preferred, can have its upper edge cut away as 55 indicated at 2 so as to provide convenient access 1936, Serial No. 92,039

to the picture 3 which can be formed with a pull tab 4 adapted to be exposed in the cut away portion so that it can be grasped for the purpose of withdrawing the picture from the frame.

The body I is arranged back of the mat 5 which is in turn located back of the glass plate 5 forming the front of the picture frame. This mat can be a separate piece removable from the glass or it can be afiixed thereto. If desired, instead of using a separate piece as a mat, the surface of the glass can be colored to take the place of the mat.

It is to be understood that the mat 5 outlines a transparent area through which the picture 3 will be exposed when in position within the space between the body I and the mat 5. The sides and bottom of this space can be suitably sealed, by means of an adhesive applied to the edges of the body, mat and glass and, in addition to or supplementing this sealing means, which forms no part of the present invention but has already been disclosed in one of my patents herein mentioned, there is provided a frame structure for holding the parts together at the edges. This frame structure includes a channeled strip of metal bent to provide a bottom section 1 and side sections 8, the flanges at the front sides of these sections being narrow and notched so as to come together when the strip is bent to the shape mentioned. This has been indicated clearly at 9 in Figure 1 where the ends of the narrow front flanges 10 come together.

The back flanges H of the channel strip are wider than the front flanges l0 and are slit transversely at the corners of the frame formed by the strip, when bent, so that the adjoining portions of the flanges will lap as shown at 12 in Figures 2 and 4. These lapping portions are adapted to receive short bolts I3 the heads of which are exposed on the front of the glass 6. These bolts serve to hold the several parts assembled at the lower corners and the nuts 14, which hold the bolts in place, can also be utilized for holding in position small plates 15 carrying sleeves or eyes 16.

The upper end portions of the wide flanges H are provided with small openings I! registering with corresponding openings in the body I, mat 5 and glass 6 so as to receive bolts 18 corresponding with the bolts 13 and likewise provided with nuts 19 for holding in place plates 28 carrying sleeves or eyes 2!. A channeled top strip 22 having a narrow front flange 23 is removably mounted on the top portion of the structure and is provided with a broad rear flange 24 the ends of which are adapted to lap the adjacent flanges H. Flange 24 is provided with short slots 25 extending upwardly thereinto at its lower edge so as to receive the respective bolts I8. Thus when 5 the nuts H! are tightened the flange 24 will be bound securely against the flanges H so that the top strip 22 will be held securely in place. Consequently the upper edges of the body I, picture 3, mat 5 and glass 6 will be concealed and pro- 10 tected. However by loosening the nuts l9 it is possible to slide the top strip 22 out of position, as shown for example in Figure 4, thus affording access to the picture which can be withdrawn by grasping tab 4 and pulling on the picture.

The heads 25 of the different bolts can be suitably colored or ornamented so as to add to the attractive appearance of the complete article. Furthermore, if desired, bolts 2'! can be extended through the glass, the mat and the body 1, these bolts being held in place by nuts 27' and serving to secure onto the front of the glass 6, a small calendar 28 or other attached parts. Under these conditions the small bolts 2! serve as stops or rests for the picture when the same is inserted downwardly into the frame.

The sleeves l6 and 2! serve to engage and hold a cord 29 threaded through them and held taut. The sides. of this cord are connected by a transverse cord 3il'which is fastened tightly thereto 30 but can be slid therealong foradjustment purposes.- This transverse cord is adapted to engage a nail or other support whereby the picture frame can be suspended in an upstanding position.

35 Instead of providing the cord for the purposes stated, an easel member 3! can be fastened to the back of the frame by the upper bolts t8 as shown in Figures 9 and 10, this easel member being tapered downwardly toward its free end and formed with a tongue 32 produced by cutting an angular slit 33 in the member. A brace member 34 can be held to the picture frame by the lower bolts Hi, this member having a tapered portion 35 terminating in a tab 35 inserta'ole into slit 33 where it will be frictionally engaged and held by the tongue 32, as indicated in Figure 10. Thus the easel members will be held projected outwardly from the back of the picture frame in position where the frame will be held in an upstanding position. When not in use the easel members can be separated from each other and folded one upon the other as illustrated in Figure 9.

While the structure has been shown formed 5 with a removable top strip, it is to be understood that either side or the bottom could be made removable instead. In any case the construction and arrangement of parts will be substantially the same as that heretofore described. It might be further stated that instead of extending the bolts entirely through the corner portions of the picture frame, that they can be extended solely through the metal strips and the body portion if so desired so that they will not be exposed on the front of the picture frame. This is an obvious modification which does not appear to require illustrations.

What is claimed is: 1. A picture frame including transparent front portions, a body, there being a picture receiving space between the front portion and the body, a channeled strip bent to straddle the sides of the body and the front portion to hold them assembled, another channeled strip straddling and holding together the remaining edges of the body and front portion, and bolts extending through the channeled strips, the body and front portion for holding them assembled, one of said strips being slotted for slidable and detachable engagement with the adjacent bolts.

2. A picture frame including transparent front portions, a body, there being a picture receiving space between the front portions and the body, a channeled strip bent to straddle the sides of the body and the front portion to hold them assembled, another channeled strip straddling and holding together the remaining edges of the body and front portion, and bolts extending through the channeled strips, the body and front portions for holding them assembled, one of said strips being slotted for slidable and detachable engagement with the adjacent bolts, and means secured to the body by all of the bolts, for engaging a support to hold the frame in an upstanding position.

3. A picture frame including a channeled strip bent to constitute three sides of the frame, a body and a transparent front portion held assembled at their edges by said strip, said body and front member providing a picture receiving space therebetween, bolts extending through the body and front portion and through the channeled strip for holding them assembled, a channeled strip removably mounted upon and straddling the body and front member and constituting the fourth side of the frame, said member being slotted to slidably and detachably engage the bolts.

4. A picture frame including a channeled strip bent to constitute three sides of the frame, a bodyand a transparent front portion held assembled at their edges by said strip, said body and front member providing 'a picture receiving space therebetween, bolts extending through the body and front portion and through the channeled strip for holding them assembled, a channeled strip removably mounted upon and straddling the body and front member and constituting the fourth side of the frame, said member being slotted to slidably and detachably engage the bolts, and support engaging means carried by all of the bolts for holding the frame in an upstanding position.

5. A picture frameincluding a body having a cut away edge portion, a transparent front portion, a mat interposed between the body and front portion, there being a picture receiving space between said .mat and body, bolts extending through the body and front portion and constituting stops for limiting the movement of the picture when inserted into the frame and to support the picture with a portion exposed at the cut away portion of the body, and channeled strips straddling the edges of the body and front portion, bolts extending through said strips, the

body and front portion, one of said strips being slotted for detachable engagement by adjacent bolts.

ALBERT LEMUEL SHAW. 

